Choosing a bench

Re: Choosing a bench

Tim of San Leandro

>Andrew,

It is a relatively simple thing to make a workbench using sheetgoods (plywood or mdf)edged with hardwood as the top. Bore out holes for dogs and use appropriate sized dowel as dogs.

Make the base from some construction lumber....you can simply screw the base together. Mount a vise or two and you'll be set. Be sure to tighten the screws as the construction lumber dries out...though in Scotland I don't think green lumber ever dries... :- o!

Then you can go about making "stuff" and keep telling yourself you'll fabricate a "proper" workbench when you've time ;- )

Tim

Consider building rather than buying

Angus Barclay, in New Zealand

>Hello Andrew,

perhaps you could consider building a bench. As Tim has pointed out above, they can be quite easy to build using sheet goods and construction grade timber.

A pile of lumber, lag bolts, screws, dowels, sheet goods, sharp hand saw, chisels, brace and bits and a weekend of work is all it takes to produce a very useful bench.

If you need ideas, I can post you pics of an ugly but very useful bench I made out of pine, MDF and recycled drawers that were on the firewood pile.

Don't be intimdated by the beautiful benches you see on this forum and others made out of fancy timber and with gold-plated vices and platinum bench dogs. They are very nice but you can build something equally as useful for a lot less effort and cost.

regards

Angus Barclay

(who plans to post a "shop tour" soon that will show the useful but ugly bench)

Re: Choosing a bench

Alice Frampton, UK

>Andrew,

I'll slip in under the radar here while everyone else is telling you to make your own ;~) and give you my thoughts:

Sjobergs. My dad has one of theirs, of the "cheaper" sort, and I am not impressed. The vices gave up the ghost PDQ and we had to build a totally new undercarriage to stop it wandering across the floor if you so much as breathed on it. Other's, though, have more favourable reports on them. I will say their hold down is excellent though.

Hofman & Hammer. Dunno. They're from Rutlands aren't they? How can I put this? If Lee Valley are at one end of the scale then Rutlands are definitely towards the other...

ECE. That's what I have. The big heavy duty jobbie. Had it for about, erm, 18 months? 2 years? now. Love it. Doesn't move a muscle, solid vices, it's kept as flat as a pancake. Minor niggles; I replaced the metal dogs with wooden substitutes and it takes quite a few turns to open and close the vices, but nothing you can't get used to. Definitely one to last a lifetime. The Woodshop, who I bought it via, were really helpful considering I asked them so many questions...

Axminster. Had a look at one at the show last year and was sufficiently impressed to have wished it was available before I'd bought the ECE. Of course there's no knowing how the vices would stand up to prolonged use, but at least it held firm and didn't wrack when I simulated planing on it (okay, so I shoved it, hard, which was the closest it got!). Not sure it's a bench you'd be bequeathing to the next generation though.

Diefenbach. Erm, they're made in Germany aren't they? Have you considered contacting them direct? There's got to be some advantage to this EU stuff surely?!

Of course if money is not an issue you could also consider a David Charlesworth-a-like Sawle and Vaughan bench. Made-to-measure. Hmm, maybe making one isn't such a bad idea after all... ;~)

If you want any pics of the vices and so forth on the ECE feel free to email me, btw.

Cheers, Alf

Re: Choosing a bench

paul womack

>Axminster. Had a look at one at the show last year and was sufficiently impressed to have wished it was available before I'd bought the ECE.

TLN borrowed some Axminster benches 1 year. Last year he borrowed some benches from David Charlesworth, because he couldn't adequately demonstrate planing on the Axminster...

BugBear

Re: Choosing a bench

Alice Frampton, UK

>Yep, I know. Different benches. The ghastly ones were the "Zambesi" ones or whatever they were called, made of some tropical timber. The newer ones are more like the traditional European beech sort.

Cheers, Alf

Re: Choosing a bench

paul womack

>Ahh! I'm with you:

Bench in catalogue

Not a bad price, but look at the top's thickness - 40mm is only a hair over 1 1/2 inches. Not ideal for morticing...

Frame looks a little skimpy too. Still, it ain't bad, and it ain't expensive (relatively speaking)

BugBear

Re: Choosing a bench

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Andrew

If you are "a rookie" as you say, then I must stress a few points:

1. At this stage of the game you do not know what you want. Nor do you have any idea what you will want in 10 years time. Talking about it seeing you through "a lifetime of woodworking" is therefore unrealistic.

2. Your ideas about a workbench will evolve as you acquire skills and knowledge. There are so many different types of benches and you will get many suggestions as to which is best, but the fact is they may not reflect your preference now or even in a few years time. Give yourself a chance to discover the world of woodworking before you settle. Hand tools verses power tools - I think their bench needs are different.

3. Consider that you will have several benches over your woodworking life time. Each one will be part of a developmental life cycle and reflect the needs you have at a particular stage. I have built a few and I know I have a few more to go.

4. Consider also that a workbench is like a Rite of Passage. Build your own. The early ones can be cheap and basic and meet all your current needs. MDF and plywood are very acceptable when your priority is getting practice in crafting real art, that is, learning to saw straight, plane squarely, and so on. Your next bench can be real wood with real vises when you have a better idea of what you want in a bench because you have experimented. The next will be even more perfect...

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Choosing a bench

Ernie Miller Topeka

>Build a heavy quick and dirty bench add a vice or two and use it untill you decide what you are going to be building and what you will be wanting out of a bench then you make a better informed decision on which bench to build/buy. I almost have my nice bench finished and am thinking about changes that I want to make. You need to have some sort of idea what you want out of a bench befor you buy one. I think I need a traditional end vice and didn't build one

Re: Choosing a bench

Alice Frampton, UK

>*Chuckle* Complaining about the thickness of the top? I thought you were always the first to poo-poo the desire for thick tops? All this and the revelation that once upon a time you didn't care about how flat your plane soles were?! Heck, BB, I feel like I don't know you at all ;~) Still, an opportunity to make a mortising bench, so it's not all bad news...

You're right, the base does look skimpy. It didn't act skimpy, but I only gave it a cursory glance. Still, a few drawers in there... But I think, on the whole, I'd still go with the ECE if I was buying again.

Cheers, Alf

Re: Choosing a bench

paul womack

>I thought you were always the first to poo-poo the desire for thick tops?

Well, (settles down for a good argument), what I object too is making tops thicker than is needed.

Somwhere between 2 1/2" and 4" is enough for any purpose I can think of, and this thickness is ONLY needed in the front 8-12" of the top. It is this area where most of the heavy action takes place.

The rest of the bench can be made from thinner and/or lighter woods.

Quite a few of the 1930's books show a beech beam (for want of a better word) at the front, and the rest of the surface made up with 1" planks. The underside is made up with spacers so it sits on the legs nicely.

If anyone cares, I also object too using over-specified stretchers and M&T joints, when either a panelled construction or diagonal bracing gives as good a bench for less material.

I like effective design. I love windsor chairs :-)

BugBear (ranting)

Re: Choosing a bench

Alice Frampton, UK

>The trouble with Windsor chairs is you can't pull their legs nearly as effectively as you can a BugBear... ;~)

So how about the "Charlesworth" bench then, BB? Would you like to critique it giving each feature marks out of ten? Just as a, ha-hum, benchmark? ]:~)

Oh, okay then. Seeing as how you're settled. (opts for Devil's Advocate type role) Having a thick top only at the front does rather assume that's you're going to use the bench from only one side, doesn't it? Not necessarily the case in these modern times. Discuss. Use only one side of the paper...

Cheers, Alf

Re: Choosing a bench

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>I strongly advise what others such as Derek and Ernie have said.

Start simple and build a cheap! bench of your own. It will serve as a great learning experience. As you know, buying a bench is expensive and somewhat risky for a number of reasons.

- The bench you buy may not work for you or your style.

- It could be too small, or too large.

- It may not hold up for a long period of usage

- It may not be built well and require more maintenance than normal.

What makes it all worse is that you can buy this thing and only find all the problems out after you buy it.

Now it could be a great bench. There are some fine ones made out there. But why risk it?

I'm just finishing my second one and I expect to have this one for a loooong time.

just my thoughts...

One thing Andrew

David Miller from Iowa

>Hope you were prepared for this level of analysis. Whenever someone asks what kind of bench, plane, tool, whatever they should get, we all jump in with both feet.

"The nice thing about asking for advice is that you can listen to it without having to take it" (Captain James T. Kirk)

Well...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>If buying I'd be looking/waiting for the new Lie-Neilsen bench. I on the other hand agree with most here saying build a cheap one first. You can then find out the important things like how should it be for you and finding your personal preferences.

I love it !!

Dave Anderson Chester,NH

>This is truly one of the more memorable exchanges I've seen in a good while. Point....Counterpoint. Now if only I could come up with some clever zinger to convince my 2 favorite Brits to prolong this exchange which is both fun and educational.

Figures

Bob Hackett

>Dave jinxed it!;^)

MB-Who was also enjoying the discussion.

Chuckle

Alice Frampton, UK

>It must be our shy and retiring natures :~)

Cheers, Alf

Re: Chuckle

Bob Hackett

>Makes you feel like Jane Goodall observing you folks.You have to be real quiet and try not to disturb you because if you do there`s a chance you`ll regret it.;^)

Mainely,Bob-Who gave up shy and retiring in favor of reclusive.